By Mark Doyle

0

May 17, 2012 20:50:00

The midfielder has a lot of time for a man who played a key role in his return to Camp Nou, while the Spain international is also satisfied with his first season back at the club

Cesc Fabregas has backed Barcelona's decision to appoint Tito Vilanova as their new boss, believing the continuity the current assistant coach will bring to the club could even allow the Blaugrana to surpass what they have done under the departing Pep Guardiola.

The latter announced last month that he would be standing down at the end of the season and it was initially presumed that Athletic Bilbao's Marcelo Bielsa would be installed as his successor.

However, the club have instead turned to Guardiola's right-hand man, and Fabregas believes the Catalans have made the right call.

"First of all, I must say that Tito is a very good person," the attacking midfielder told El Mundo Deportivo. "It may sound like a cliche but it's true: he is a winner.

"He also shares the same virtue with Pep in that he knows how to get the best out of players.

"I do not like to make predictions but Barca should look great with Tito.

"I like the continuity that is being given to the club, because this team has surpassed [Johan Cruyff's] 'Dream Team' and all previous historical records, so that this opportunity has been given to Tito, after Pep has done it all, is very good.

"I know Tito will want to contribute his own personal touch. And I also know that he had an influence on my signing!"

Fabregas returned to Camp Nou last summer, rejoining the club he had left as a youngster to move to Arsenal eight years previously.

The Spain international made a blistering start to the season but his form tailed off towards the end of the campaign, prompting criticism from certain quarters. Fabregas, though, is satisfied with his first year back at Barcelona.

"The truth is I am very happy with how I've done," the 25-year-old insisted. "It is true that it all started very well, but the feeling I have looking at the overall season remains very positive.

"I played a lot more than people and I expected. It's a bit surprising that some were saying, 'look, he does not play', since I knew that I was coming into the best team ever.

"So, I sincerely believe that my first season has been good, although, inwardly, I'm the first to acknowledge that I can give more.

"Adapting to a new position was a difficult challenge and, if I play in the cup final, I will feel proud to say I've played 48 games, a figure that I did not reach for four years, though not because I didn't want to, but because my injuries would allow me to.

"So, if you leave the last three months to one side, I feel good about how I've done."

Fabregas is hoping to be included in the Barca starting line-up for the Copa del Rey final clash with Athletic at the Vicente Calderon on May 25.

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